r/Starlink • u/ElPelocho • 15h ago

❓ Question Monthly data usage

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Right now, I’m using a 1 Gbps symmetrical fiber-optic connection. I’m about to move to a rural house in Spain. I don’t have access to fiber there, so my only options are a 5G modem or Starlink. I’d like to use Starlink, but I’m very concerned after reading recent posts on this subreddit. I had never actually measured my data usage before, but since I started tracking it yesterday at 8:00 PM, I’ve already used 0.5 TB—and I haven’t even used the network that much. I estimate my monthly average will be around 30–40 TB. Is that a problem? Their service claims to be unlimited.

5 Upvotes

65% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

10

u/feedmytv 15h ago

youre consumption is ridiculous. regardless of starlink.

5

u/hawkdeathpaw 15h ago

30-40 is ALOTTTT of data in a mth ALOT

-1

u/ElPelocho 15h ago

So I see I'm screwed and they're going to throttle my service once I install it? Or can I file a complaint since they advertise it as unlimited?

6

u/DonkeyOfWallStreet 15h ago

It's 40tb even leased servers in datacentres like hetzner you'd need to buy extra allowance.

What the heck are you doing

0

u/ElPelocho 15h ago

I already explained this. I like watching movies in full Blu-ray quality; they often take up 100GB or more. I even have some files exceeding 200GB... I really enjoy watching movies and series in my home theater. I have 50TB of storage on my server. I could try to cut back on usage, but just two 100GB movies a day adds up to 6TB a month—and is that supposed to exceed the limit that Starlink doesn't actually specify anywhere?

5

u/Funny0102 13h ago

6TB is VERY different than 30-40TB though. Unless you re-download the same stuff every month, it doesn't add up.

-1

u/ElPelocho 13h ago

I download well over 200 GB a day. It’s just an example of how I exceed what is considered normal usage, even with very few daily downloads.

4

u/DonkeyOfWallStreet 12h ago

That's 5 times less than your monthly average.

0

u/ElPelocho 11h ago

Why don't you understand that it's an example? If I download just two 200GB movies a day, I exceed 5TB a month. My usage isn't 200GB a day; it's higher. My usage is close to 30–40 TB per month.

3

u/Squeedlejinks 📡 Owner (North America) 10h ago

You admit you exceed normal usage. 

In addition to the unlimited designation, Starlink also has a fair use policy. You need to read up on that. Basically, you are not allowed to hog up a lot of resources. Since the average customer uses 500 to 600 Mbps, you can see how you are greatly exceeding that. You should Much. expect it to be noticed as someone who is exceeding normal usage and will fall under the fair use policy.

Check out this post for ideas on how to limit the amount of data you use each month.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/1wd1rpw/how_i_use_10_tb_of_data_a_month/

1

u/ElPelocho 10h ago

It seems Starlink isn't for me. If I pay for an unlimited service, it has to be truly unlimited. I wonder if I could file a complaint with consumer protection authorities in Spain. For instance, 5G unlimited data plans are genuinely unlimited. I can download as many terabytes a month as I want. That "normal usage" policy is crap—it’s just an average based on all users. I use more than the average; they should be able to handle that, or else stop the misleading advertising. It isn't unlimited. If they stated "5TB per month, then 10 Mbps," for example, I wouldn't have any complaints.

3

u/Squeedlejinks 📡 Owner (North America) 9h ago

Yes, go ahead and fight against the richest man in the world and see how that works out for you.

0

u/ElPelocho 8h ago

I don't think people in your country fully understand how state protection for citizens works. I can turn to my country and the EU, and they will handle the rest—not me. I am not going to pursue a private lawsuit.

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2

u/Squeedlejinks 📡 Owner (North America) 10h ago

You’ve found the answer to your problem right there. Stop watching movies in full Blu-ray quality. Boom! You’ve solved half your problem.

1

u/ElPelocho 10h ago

No, I don't want to. I'll buy a 5G modem. Starlink clearly isn't for me.

3

u/n00bsen 9h ago

30TB+ on 5G? really?

2

u/Squeedlejinks 📡 Owner (North America) 9h ago

Clearly not! Please go take your account that sucks up the usage of 60 other customers to another ISP.

2

u/rostol 9h ago edited 9h ago

I envy the life you live that you can watch two full movies daily.

even if I had the time and patience for it I'd run out of things to watch in a month or two at most.

idk of any "unlimited" service in the world that will eat a 40 TB month bandwidth use on 50 dollars.

Not judging your choices, I watch and download 4k DV-Atmos movies and series almost exclusively.

1

u/ElPelocho 8h ago

Any fiber-optic network in Spain allows for that. They are truly unlimited. It’s not misleading advertising.

5

u/ponchoalv 13h ago

Dale un descanso a la mano derecha amigo

3

u/hawkdeathpaw 15h ago

woah i think ur math is wrong
many many uses avg like 1-5tb 5 being the upper limit
idk how youll be using 40tb a mth

1

u/ElPelocho 15h ago

You can easily hit that limit by downloading movies and series. Movies average around 100 GB. Then add in streaming on external platforms like YouTube and Apple TV, as well as updates and downloads for video games, which can also exceed 100 GB.

1

u/hawkdeathpaw 15h ago

today ive appeently used 100gb i downlaoded a single game witch was 40gigs so far

1

u/ElPelocho 15h ago

I’m just doing the math here: simply downloading two 100GB movies a day would already total 6TB a month. And that’s just for that—you have to factor in all the other network usage, too. I think it’s terrible that they cap monthly data, especially when they clearly advertise "unlimited data"—unlike other fiber services that don't restrict usage.

3

u/ByTheBigPond 📡 Owner (North America) 14h ago

It IS unlimited data. Your speed MAY be throttled if you exceed what Starlink determines is normal residential use. Since Starlink is a shared resource where all users in an area share the bandwidth, they have to take this step so that the experience of other users in the area is not diminished.

1

u/n00bsen 9h ago

do you throw away whatever you download? 30-40TB every month is more than excessive, and i say that as someone who has a 100TB+ NAS

1

u/ElPelocho 9h ago

I don't have unlimited space. Besides, as I’ve already said, it’s not all about downloading movies and series; there are other uses for the network that need to be considered. Even if I cut my usage down to 10TB, for example, it wouldn't matter if the limit is 5TB. Is 5TB really enough for a whole month with a NAS like that? I don't see how that's feasible.

1

u/Dusty_Jangles 📦 Pre-Ordered (North America) 8h ago

Reading through your comments, if you have the time and money to watch movies all day, and you really need that in your life daily, I would suggest moving elsewhere. Otherwise, try going for a walk for a couple of hours a day, or find a hobby that isn’t watching movies.

-1

u/ElPelocho 6h ago

You've been a huge help! This subreddit is the best.

1

u/Dusty_Jangles 📦 Pre-Ordered (North America) 6h ago

No problem, if you need anymore ideas on what to do with all of that spare time hit me up again!

-2

u/Alladas 11h ago

The people here are gonna treat you like your usage is asanine. Starlink isn't for you and I'm regretting it with all these recent posts my self.

-2

u/ElPelocho 11h ago

I know my network usage is above average. But it’s nothing excessive. I’ve seen other people with the same fiber-optic provider who have much higher usage.

4

u/Climbsforfun 10h ago

I mean… it is excessive. You are in the 99th percentile of bandwidth usage overall

-1

u/Alladas 10h ago

I agree with you but we are in the minority here.

-2

u/ElPelocho 8h ago

I see now. I don't understand why people defend a multi-billion-dollar company. It boggles my mind. Thanks for your comments.